Harris Pastides

During the past decade, the University of South Carolina’s 28th president, Harris
Pastides, has led USC’s flagship system of eight institutions in 19 geographic locations
to higher achievements and unprecedented growth. Under Pastides’ tenure the university
has seen the South Carolina Honors College rise to the No. 1 public honors college
in the nation; celebrated continual top national academic program rankings, including
47 current programs in undergraduate and graduate international business, public health,
engineering, nursing and others; procured record-levels of research funding and surpassed a
$1 billion capital campaign goal.

A steadfast advocate for a superior student experience, Pastides encourages engagement
beyond the classroom through leadership, service learning, international experiences,
internships and undergraduate research. During his tenure, innovative programs like
Palmetto College, On Your Time Graduation, Gamecock Gateway, Gamecock Guarantee and
the Gamecock Student Athletic Promise provide greater access, flexibility and affordability
to South Carolinians seeking a higher education degree. In addition to establishing
record-setting enrollment, more than 100,000 degrees have been awarded system-wide
during Pastides’ presidency.

In 2016, Pastides became one of seven Fulbright alumni to receive the inaugural Global
Changemaker Award — given in recognition of his ongoing commitment to transform society
and humanity through his work. The son of Greek immigrants, Pastides also received
the 2017 prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor which pays homage to the immigrant
experience and the contributions made to our nation by immigrants and their children.
In 2017, Pastides also received the SC Urban League Whitney M. Young Award for his
trailblazing work to promote civil rights and equal opportunity.

Today, Pastides serves on many local, state, national and international boards including
the U.S. Council on Competitiveness, the U.S. Fulbright Program (Chair), the University
Research Associates (Chair), the South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium and the Google.org
Impact Challenge. He is a past chair of the NCAA Division I Board of Directors and
currently serves as president of the Southeastern Conference.

Prior to joining the university’s faculty as dean of the Arnold School of Public Health,
then advancing to vice president for Research and Health Sciences, Pastides was a
professor of epidemiology and chairman of the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology
at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He received two masters’ degrees and a
Ph.D. in Epidemiology from Yale University. President Pastides and the first lady,
Patricia Moore-Pastides, live on USC’s historic Horseshoe.

Presidential Communications

President Pastides is widely known for his dedication to USC and to building a world-class university
for our community, state and nation.